Spring structure.



w. R. SMITH SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 20,1915.

LMQQG, Patented Oct. 16,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

w. SMITH. SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 20,1915.

Patented Oct. 16,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Edy. Z

WATSON B. SMITH, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

srnine srnucrunn- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 20, 1915. Serial No. 62,563.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WATSON B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to upholstered coverings for spring structures.

One object is to provide an upholstered covering for spring structures embodying an upholstered article which may be readily sprung into and out of cooperative relation with a spring structure whereby the upholstered article may be formed without'the necessity of building the same around the spring structure but separately therefrom and later applied thereto.

Another object resides in the provision of an upholstered covering for spring structures embodying an upholstered seat portion, one or more side facings, a frame to which the side facings may be secured, and means whereby the frame may be detachably secured to a spring structure to provide the necessary upholstering for the latter. 1

A still further object is to provide an upholstered spring structure whose side facings are secured to the spring structure and readily disconnected therefrom.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter 'more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of themvention. i

In the drawings Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through a spring structure and the upholstering covering therefor, the latter being detachably applied to the spring structure. Fig. 2' 1s a plan view of the upholstering covering frame detached therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary slightly enlarged perspective view illustratingthe connection between the upholstering frame and the base frame of the spring structure.

Fig. 4 embraces a fragmentary detail perspective View of the strip for fastening the facing to the frame of the upholstering covering.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the frame of the upholstering covering.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is an elevation partly in section illustrating the modified form.

Fig. 8 is a detail fragmentary slightly en: larged perspective view of the strip which fastens the facing to the base frame in this modified form.

Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating the base frame of the spring structure of the modified form.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the reference character 10 indicates a spring structure of any suitable character, including a base of any nature, preferably, however, i of wire 11. These spring structures are put together as an article of manufacture and are later upholstered in various ways in the same place Where manufactured or in someother place of a modified to which they may have been transported;

when the upholstering covering automatically springs into operative connection with the spring structure and whereby for pur poses of repair or for any other reason the upholstered covering may be easily and readily removed from the spring structure, obviating the necessity of purchasing an Patented Oct. ic, iota.

entire seat structure in the event that it be desired to replace worn upholstering material. Tothis end, I provide a covering for spring structures embodying an uphol st ered seat portion 12 having side facings 13, the lower edges of which I secure to a suitable frame 14 preferably of the shape of the base frame of the structure in. connection with which latter the frame 14 is adapted to be secured.

The base frame'14 is preferably formed of sheet metal and along its lower edge it is preferably flanged or beaded to form an external marginal shoulder 15 along the lower edge of the frame 14; The facings 13 have their lower edges secured to the frame 14 immediately above this external shoulder 15 so that the lower edges-of the facing will not extend entirely to the lower edge of the base frame and are thereby shielded from unnecessary wear.

r The lower edges of the facing may be secured to the metallic frame 14 in various ways but one. way in which I accomplish it is to provide a yieldable, preferably metallic strip 1 6 which is bent around the frame 14 and which has prongs 17 which may be struck up therefrom and which are adapted to pierce the facing and pass through openings 18 formed in the frame 14 and to be upset on the inner side of the frame 14 whereby the upholstering material is firmly secured to the frame 14. This fastening strip 16 is preferably covered with leather or other suitable material to hide the openings made as the result of the formation of the prongs 17 and to give a pleasing effect to the finished article.

My improved upholstering cover con structure and, by virtue of which connec-' tion, the covering may be readily disconnected' from the spring structure, if desired.

While I- contemplate the production of a covering which may be made in the absence of the spring structure and which may be detachably connected thereto in the manner stated, I also contemplate the application of my improved upholstered covering and the fastenin means therefor to spring structures wherein it is desired to build the upholstering material around the spring structure. To this end, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a spring structure provided with a base frame 20 of sheet metal which is provided with a plurality of openings 21. The lower edges of the facing or other suitable material 'as in the first form described and, while the covering in the first form described may be sprung into and out of connection with the base frame this modified form, while generally detachable is detachable by manipulation of the upset prongs 17" of the fastening strip 16, but,

when the upholstering covering is disconnected from the base frame 20 it does not carry with it a metallic fastening frame such as that first described. i

What is claimed is 1. An upholstered cover for spring structures comprising covering material, a frame to which the lower edges of the side facings of the covering material are disposed and which has spaced openings therein, and means fitting around the frame and having prongs passed through the lower edges of the facings and through said openings and upset on the inner side of the frame to fasten the covering to the latter.

2. An upholstered cover for spring structurescomprising covering material, a fame to which the lower edges of the side facings of the covering material are disposed and which has spaced openings therein, and meansfitting around the frame and having prongs passed through the lower edges of the facings and through said openings and upset on the inner side of the frame to fasten the facing to the latter, said frame carrying means to effect a detachable locking connection between the upholstered cover and the spring structure.

3. An upholstered cover for spring structures comprising covering material, a frameto which the lower edges of the side facings of the covering material are secured and which has spaced openings therein, and means fitting around the frame and having prongs passed through the lower edges of the facings and through said openings and upset on the inner side of the frame to fasten the covering to the latter, said frame carrying means to eflect a detachable looking connection between the upholstered cover and the spring structure and to sup-,

port the latter on said frame.

4. An upholstered cover for s ring structures comprising covering materlal, a frame to which the lower edges of the side facings of the covering material are secured and wh ch has spaced openings therein, means fittlng around the frame and having prongs passed through the lower eage's of the facings and through said openings and upset on the inner side of the frame to fasten the covering to the latter, and a plurality of inwardly projecting upwardly turned hooks on said frame for detachably engaging and supporting the spring frame.

WATSON R. Sh/HTH.

Witnesses:

RALPH L. Wmoox, GUSTAV A. FRANZ. 

